Religions have been and remain among the most powerful forces shaping human history. Their discourses and practices inform the way we perceive ourselves, those around us, and existence at large, even when we are not actively religious. They are central to understanding both what divides us and unites us. The academic study of religion is a trans-disciplinary endeavor to understand from an objective perspective how religious traditions shape the lives of their adherents, without seeking to promote or disprove any specific belief system. The M.A. in Religious Studies acquaints students with the diversity of religious cultures and introduces them to key methods and theories employed in their examination as “religion.”

Director of Graduate Studies
William Lindsey, email: brl@ku.edu

General Information

• Current Graduate Student Activities
• Graduate Handbook: This document fully describes the admissions process, the faculty areas of research and the coure requirements for the Religious Studies M.A. degree options.
• Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) Positions
• Scholarships
• Graduate Program Worksheet: Use this form to track your progress in the graduate program.
• REL 800 Approval: Use this form to enroll in an independent study course with a professor at the graduate level.

Application Process (for Prospective Graduate Students)

The application deadline for Fall 2012 admission to the M.A. program in Religious Studies is February 1, 2012.

Click here to go directly to the online application process http://www.graduate.ku.edu/01-04_apply.shtml

The graduate application for admission, the graduate application fee, the GRE scores, TOEFL scores and IELTS scores should all be submitted with the University of Kansas Graduate School application. Starting September 2011 the Graduate School will no longer accept paper applications. All application materials that cannot be submitted online should be sent to The University of Kansas Department of Religious Studies, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, 1300 Oread Ave., Smith Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045-7615.

Graduate Check Sheet: Use this form to track your progress during the application process.

Letter of Recommendation form: This letter of recommendation form is used to accompany the professor's evaluation of the applicant and can be downloaded online with the applicants graduate school application

 

Applicants:

1. Please sign the Letter of Recommendation form
2. Please check the appropriate box indicating if you do or do not waive your right to see the contents of the recommendation letter

Reviewers:

1. Please rank applicant on the chart at the bottom of the recommendation letter form. i.e. Top 1%, Top 5%
2. Please attach a letter of evaluation of the applicants ability to pursue academic graduate study of religion.
3. Please sign and send the form and letter to the Graduate Director, The University of Kansas, Department of Religious Studies, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, 1300 Oread Ave., Smith Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045-7615. If followed by a hard copy via the federal mail you may email or fax form and letter to Aagje Ashe, Administrative Assistant, Sr. Fax: Attn.: Aagje Ashe, 785/864-5205. Email: a4ashel@ku.edu.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact Aagje Ashe, Administrative Associate Sr. at a4ashe@ku.edu or 785/864-4341.